By Ben Adoga
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA has shut down the high brow Garki International Market on account of filthiness.
The Administration has vowed to keep the market shut till the market is completely tidied up.
Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of FCT on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah stated this when he visited the market with Director Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Osilama Braimah to reassess the cleanliness of the environment.
He was angry that despite the fact that the market has been shut since Friday the market authorities have refused to clean up the market.
He said they did not do enough or take necessary measures to keep to the desired standard set by the Administration.
Attah noted that the minister of FCT Mallam Muhammad Bello wants a clean and safe Abuja, therefore necessary steps must be put in place to uphold the standard.
“The present stage of Garki International Market is a disaster waiting to happen, we have gone around the market to check the level of sanitation but is still bad. We sealed it last Friday, so by now, there are supposed to be some signs of seriousness on the part of traders.
“The Abuja Environmental Protection Board AEPB has acted in line with the Ministerial directives, any part of Abuja either market, school or office must be kept clean.”
Also, the Director of, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Osilama Braimah said the board was keen on reopening the market but was not satisfied with the level of hygiene.
“This is about my fourth visit to the market, but it is still in a deplorable state, very filthy. We are planning to reopen the market but looking at what is on the ground is not possible, hopefully, it will be in a few days to come.”
A tailor in the market, Umar Hamza said Garki International Market has been shut in the last five days due to uncleanliness, but pleaded for mercy without any commitment to keep the market clean.
While traders bemoan loss in business and want the market reopened, the market authorities have not shown any commitment to clean up the market.
Some observers say the market, in the heart of the city in such a filthy state is a Shane and a disgrace to Nigerians’ capital city.
